Grain-binder



6 Shee tsSheet 1 L. MILLER. GRAIN BINDER (No Model.)

No.'419,154. Patented Ja.I1.7,18QO.

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GRAIN BINDER (No Model.)

No. 419,154. Patented Jan.`7,.1890.

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6 Sheets-Sheet 3. L. MILLER.

GRAIN BINDER.

4(No Model.)

No. 419,154. Patented Ja,11.7,1890.

Wwf/6155 g5 6 Sheets-Sheet 4. L. MILLER. GRAIN BINDER (No Model.)

Np. 419,154. Patented Jan. 7,1890.

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6 Sheets-Sheet 5. I.. MILLER. GRAIN BINDER (No Model.)

Patented Jen. 7, 1890.

I In" l 6 Sheets-Sheet 6. L. MILLER. GRAIN BINDER (No Model.)

No. 419,154. Patented Jan.7,1890.

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LEw/s MILLER, i ,1f/U /uls'rtowwys N Perini mwmmgmphnr. www a c UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS MILLER, OF AKRON, OHIO.

GRAIN-BINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 419,154, dated January'7, 1890.

Application tiled November 20, 1888. Serial No. 291,373. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, LEWIS MILLER, a citizen of the Unit-ed States,residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain-Binders, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates more especially to that class of automaticcord-knotting grain-binders exhibiting the followingcharacteristicsviz., a slot in the breast-plate through which the cordpasses over a supporting-linger normally extending athwart the slot, butmovable laterally and intermittently to clear the passage for the cord,the sup portin g-iin ger being mounted on a recessed foot carried by anelbow-lever pivoted on the frame and vibrated by a cam on a cam-and-gearwheel, a knotter rotating once during each operation on an axissubstantially perpendicular to the breast-plate over the slot and footand stopping with its jaws pointing outward relatively to the line ofthe slot, and a cord-holder rotating intermittently to carry the cordinto suitable relations to the bridge straddled byV the knotter-jaws andto the knife which cuts the cord as theknot is formed.

rlhe objects of my invention are to simplify the construction andincrease the efficiency of the apparatus, which ends I attain by certainnovel organizations and combinations of instrumentalities hereinafterspecically designated.

My invention contemplates the embodiment of these improvements with themost complete apparatus of the present day.

The accompanying drawings represent so much only of an automaticcord-knotting grain-binding apparatus as is necessary to elucidate thesubj ect-matter claimed with my improvements embodied therein. Some ofthese improvements maybe used without the others and in apparatusdiffering somewhat in details of construction from those shown.

Unless otherwise indicated, the parts hereinafter referred to are ofwell-known construction.

Figure l is a front elevation showing the parts in the attitude assumed(with both strands of cord in the holder) before the knetter begins torotate; Fig. 2, a rear elevation. showing the same parts and attitudesas Fig. l; Fig. 3, a grain-side elevation, partly in section; Fig. 3, adetail section showing the overhung bridge or cord-guide bar behind theeye or enlarged opening at the termination of the cord-slot; Fig. 4.,another grainside elevation with the knetter and its spindle removed toshow the cord-h older more clearly; Fig. 5, a stubble-side elevation,partly in section, showing the side of the elbow-lever and cord-holderopposite that shown in Figs. 3 and 4, with the elbow-lever andholder-actuating pawl retracted; and Fig. 6, a similar view with theseparts advanced. Fig. '7 representsa sectional plan showing the relationof the cordsupporting finger, knotter, holder, and cord just as the knotis being stripped from the jaws; and Fig. 8, a similar view showing therelation of these parts just before the strands are cut. Fig. 9 is adetail view, similar to that shown in Fig. 2, of the knot-ter-frame andholder. Fig. 10 is a detail View, similar to that shown in Fig. l,showing the cord-supporting linger, overhung bridge or guide-bar, andcordholder, with the cord carried and held at its lowest point thereby.Fig. 11 is a detail sectional plan showing the relations of thecordholder, slot, and foot, with its supporting-finger and recess in themost advanced position of the foot; and Fig. 12, a similar view of thesame parts in their normal or retracted position. Fig. 13 shows agrain-side detail elevation, similar to Figs. 3 and 4., of the rotarycordholder disk and its oscillating springclamp or holder-shoe,illustrating the devices for adjusting the pressure of the clamp. Fig.14 shows a similarl View of the cord-holder, clamp, elbow-lever, foot,and overhung bridge, showing the relation of the parts with the strandssevered and the new strand in the holder. Fig. 15 shows a similar Viewwith the foot advanced and the double strand held down on the bridge bythe holder just before the knife cuts, and Fig. 1G is a detail viewofthe cord-holder-actuating pawl detached.

In this instance I call the grain side of the machine the forwardf7inner, or left-, and the stubble side the realy outer, or right7 side.The front of the machine is that side next the horses, and the otherside the rear.

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A driving-shaft a., mounted and driven in usual ways, carries anordinary cam-and-gear wheel A and discharging-arms A A2. Thebracketframe or knetter-frame B has a pipebox bearing b at its upper endencircling the shaft a. The knetterframe is forked or arched, so as toleave a central opening, its legs h b2 being provided withlaterally-proj ecting feet secured to the breast-plate @,which isprovided with a cord-slot c. This slot is shown as having a straightfront wall back to a point just within the sweep of the knetterjaws,where it is deflected laterally and forwardly, terminating in an eye orenlarged opening c2. The rear wall of this slot curves forward slightlywithin the sweep of the knotter-jaws, forming a guide-nger c', whichextends athwart the slot and forms the inner or grainside wall et theenlarged opening c2, above mentioned, in which the slot terminates, thelonger axis of which opening lies ata right angle to the front wall ofthe slot, or nearlyso. The front branch or leg b of the knetter-frame,it will be observed, Figs. 7 and 8,li es close to but in front of thefront wall of the slot,while the rear leg b2 is secured to thebreast-plate beyond the end of the slot, but in the same line.

The knetter D, which is shown of the usual tyingbill pattern, has ashaft CZ, mounted in a pendent bearing b3 on the bracket-frame, andcarries abevel-pinion d on its upper end, meshing with sector-teeth a onthe cam-andgear wheel A. The lower jaw d2, in this instance, .is thefixed one. The upper jaw d4 is pivoted to move vertically relativelythereto and provided with the usual friction-roller d5,- spring d, andactuating-cam cZ7on the knetterbearing.

The knott-er-spindle, it will be observed, is practically perpendicularto the breast-plate in advance of the front line of the slot and overlthe .forward en d o f the enlarged eye or opening c2. The knetter-jaws,Figs. 7 and 8, preferably normally standv pointing slightly outward andbackward relatively to the slot, being' so organized as to make a singlerevolution at each operation orknot-forming an d then stop. j

` An elastic or yielding overhanging bridge or guide-bar E, Figs. 3, 3,4, and 7, is shown as securedat one end on an upright post e on thebreast-plate, as extending backward above and parallel with thebreast-plate, and within the sweep of the knetter-jaws, which straddleit during the latterpart of their revolution and sweep the overlyingstrands therefrom as they are out. on the rear end of this bridge orguide-bar serves te prevent the strands escaping' prematurely therefrom.

A cam-guide f on the cam-and-gear wheel A`acts ena friction-roller f onan elbow-lever F, vibrating on a pivot f2 onl the knetterframe B. Thiselbow-lever is shown as oscillating on the outer or stubble side of theknetter-frame in a plane parallel therewith,

the knetter-frame.

A hook or shoulder e but transverse to the line of the cord-slet c, andascarrying a cord-guiding foot G, Figs. 11 and 12. This foot terminatesat its inner front corner in a cord-supporting finger ertoe g, extendinglaterally athwart the cord-slot,

and in such relation thereto that in its nor` mal or retracted positionit extends entirely across theslot and bars the passage of the cord.Vhen in its advanced position, however, the strands slip past the heel ginto the recess g2 in the foot, and thus pass into the eye c2 of theslot. The front edge of the toe is bent down so as to form a flange g3,which overlaps a corresponding upturned flange c3 on the rear line ofthe cord-guiding finger c of the breast-plate, Figs. l and 10, theeffect of which is te prevent any possibility of the cordv workingbeneath the toe into the eye c2 until the toe moves out of the way.

The cord-holder consists of a disk H, provided with cord-receivingnotches h on its periphery and mounted on a shaft hf on theknetter-frame. Figs. 7 to 1l show this disk as practically perpendicularto the breastplate and parallel with the knetter-spindle. It isintermittently turned at suitable intervals by means of a ratchet-wheelH on its outer side, actuated by a pawl I, rocking on a pivot t' on theelbow-lever and upheld by a spiral spring i', *Fig; 1G. The head t2 andshank a of this pawl are connected by a screw te adjust the pawlproperly relatively to the ratchet-teeth, which adj ustment'is importantto insure accurate co-operation of the pawl and holder. A detent-springh2 prevents backward movement of the ratchet.

The cord-clamp, Fig. 13, is shown as consisting of a bell-crank arm J,trough-shaped and curved at bottom to encompass the holderdisk H, androcking vertically on a pivot j on A set-screwj on the upper end of theholder-shoe J varies the pressure of a spiral spring f, interposedbetween the holder-shoe and frame, and th us regulates the pressure ofthe clamp on the disk, and consequently the bite on the bindingcord.Y

A knife K is .fixed on the foot G, near the forward edge of its hinderpart, its front edge being blunt, curved, and sloping backward, Figs. 14and 15, to-slide readily under the cord, while its rear edge is sharpVand inclined upward and forward, so as to make a sliding cut on itsbackward stroke. y

The other parts of the mechanism, being well known, need not bedescribed.v

The apparatus operates as follows:` The binder-arm rises through thecord-slot, laying a strand of the cord over the cord-supporting toe g,which lies athwart the slot, and over the nose of the knetter into oneof the notches h of the cord-holding disk, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7, andthen retracts, leaving the cord fast therein. After the gavel is formedthe binderarm again rises, laying the second strand of' cord in the sameposition as the former one. The sector-teeth a en the cam-and-gear wheelA then mesh with the pinion d of the knetter,

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and the latter begins to turn in the direction of the hands of a clock,the jaws passing under the strands, as usual, (see Fig. 3,) and sweepingthem to t-he front. Simultaneously with this movement the foot advancesfrom the position shown in Fig. 12 to that shown in Fig. 11, thecord-supporting toe g moves to the front of the line of the cord-slot,and the strands slip over the heel g into the recess g2. The effect ofthis movement, obviously, is to slacken the strands and thus give upcord to the knotter during the latter part of its rotation. As theelbow-lever carrying the foot advances, the pawl I earried by it rotatesthe cord-holding disk H in the direction shown by the arrows in thedrawings and carries the strands downward and forward from the positionshown in Figs. 3, 4, 7, 12, and 14 to that shown in Figs. 8 and 15. Theforward movement of the foot carries the knife K in front of thestrands.At the same time the latter are carried down` ward over and in front ofthe shoulder or hook e on the cord-guide or bridge E. (See Fig. 15.) Theknotter continues its rotation, while the holder and foot remain stillin their advanced position. As the knotter reaches the front line of theslot and moves backward, its jaws open and straddle or embrace thestrands lying on the cord-guide E, which is made slightly elastic toaccommodate the passage of the jaws, as well as to compensate slightlythe strain on the strands. The iixed jaw of the knotter in this instancepasses under the bridge or cord-guide, while the movable one passes overit, and the strands thereon are caught in the jaws in the usual way. Theshoulder e on the cord-guide prevents the strands from slipping off it,and

the parts assume the relation shown in Fig. 8, which draws the strandswell within the jaws. The latter now stop while the foot retracts, andthe knife cuts the strands in front of the holder-disk. The strandconnected with the binder-arm still, however, remains clamped at theback of the holder, as usual. (See Figs. 5, 7, and12.) The continuedbackward movement of the foot causes the front wall of its recess g2 tostrain on the cut strands, tying the knot tightly and pulling it fromthe jaws. The operation above described is then repeated.

The mechanism, it will be observed, under my organization is compactlyand conveniently arranged in the arch or space between the legs of theknotter-frame, and all the parts are driven directly from thecam-andgear wheel Without superfiuous connectinggearing. Thecord-supporting toe and recess elfectually prevent the escape of thecord, insure its being properly held and guided, yield the requiredslack cord to form the knot without breaking the cord, and strip theknot from the jaws. The bridge or cord-guide with its shoulder presentsand retains the strands in proper relation to the knotter and holder,while the latter by its revolution carries the cord past the rear lineof the knotter-spindle and lays it well on the jaws of the knotter.

The construction of the arched or forked knotter-frame with its feet onthe front side of the cord-slot and the arrangement of theknotter-spindle and holder-disk axis in front of the plane of the slotenables the binderarm to lay the cord close to the knotter-spindle, andyet leaves the mechanism readily accessible. The rocking arm orclamping-jaw of the cord-holder, it will be observed, is pivoted wellback of the line of the cord-slot, so as to leave plenty of room forgetting at the mechanism.

The elbow-lever, which carries the cordguiding foot, knife, and theactuating-pawl of the cord-holder, rocks on a pivot transverse to butjust below the actuating-shaft, slightly behind the axis of theknotter-spindle and the line of the cord-slot, and the elbow-leveritself vibrates in a vertical plane transverse to the line of thecord-slot back of the knotter and cord-holder, while its foot extendsforward underneath the knotter, thus keeping the arm well out of the wayof the knotter and cord. The springs are arranged out of the path of thecord to avoid liability to entanglement therewith.

I am aware that some of the above-described result-s have been attainedby others as well as by myself in various ways. I am also aware thatmuch of the mechanism herein described is shown in application for Let--ters Patent of the United States tiled by me April 27, 1886, Serial No.200,321, and in Letters Patent No. 410,427, dated September 3, 1889. Itherefore limit my claims herein to the organizations and combinationshereinafter specifically designated.

Having thus fully described the construction and operation of myimproved automatic cord-knotting grain-binding apparatus, what I claimtherein as new and of my own invention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, 1s-

1. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of thebreast-plate having a cord-slot therein, the arched or forkedknotter-frame parallel with and on the front side of thecord-slot, theknotter rotating in the arch between the feet in front of the plane ofthe cord-slot, the holder-disk, also rotating on a pivot in front of theplane of the cord-slot, the holder-disk-actuating pawl and the movableholder-shoe, both pivoted on the opposite or rear side of the slot, bywhich organization the knotter mechanism is rendered readily accessibleand 4the binder-arm can traverse close to the knotter-spindle.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of thebreast-plate having a cord-slot therein, the knotter-frame paral- IOOIIO

lel with the cord-slot, the knotter-spindle, and

the holder-disk, all substantially in front of the plane of thecord-slot, the elbow-lever and its pivot in the vertical plane of thebearing vi l 419,154

of the actuating-shaft, but in rear of the knetter-spindle, and thecord-helder-actuating pawl pivoted on the elbow-lever and crossing thecord slot, by which organization both the knetter mechanism and theparts attached to the elbow-lever are rendered readily accessible andremovable. f

3. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, ofthebreast-plate having the cord-slot therein, the knetter-frame, the

rotary knetter, the elbow-lever, the cord-y the cord-slot therein, thefixed finger in the slot to deflect the cord toward the knetter, the

.knetter-frame, the elbow-lever and. its pivot .in rear of ktheknetter-spindle, the laterallymovable cord-supporting tee which normallybars the slot, so as to `hold the cord en the knetter, and the feet onwhich the-tee is mounted, both rigidly secured on the -elbowlever andcarried thereby, the recess in the .feet into which the cord passes asthe toe advances and by which the strands are guided, thefknife alsocarried by the elbow-lever, the knetter rotating` on a spindlepractically perpendicular to the breast-plate over the en-y largedopening,` of the slot, the disk cerdholder which carries the strandsdownward toward the knetter, the bridge or cord-guide, and the shoulderthereon interposed between the knetter and holder to retain the strandslaid thereon until severed by the knife.

5. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of thebreast-plate having a cord-slot therein, the arched or forkedknetter-frame parallel with and en the front side of the cord-slot, theknetter rotating in the arch between the feet on a spindle in front ofthe slot, the disk cord-holder rotating step by step on `a pivot infront of the cord-slot, its ratchet-wheel, the laterally-oscillatingelbow leven the cord guiding foot carried thereby, the actuating-pawl,and its adjusting devices pivoted on the said lever crossing thecord-slot and acting` on the ratchet-wheel.

0. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of abreast-plate having` a cord-slot therein terminating in an enlarged eyeor opening; back of the knetter-spindle, a fixed cord-guidingiinger inthe slot to deiiect the cord toward the knetter, a knetter rotating,` ona spindle practically perpendicular to the breast-plate over the ixedlinger and the enlarged opening in the cord-slot, mechanism,substantially such as described, which. drives the knetter continuouslyin one direction only during` an ent-ire revolution and stops it withits jaws pointing slightly outward relatively to the normal direction ofthe cordslot, a disk cord-holder rotating` in a plane substantiallyparallel with the knetter-spindle on a fixed axis intersecting theknetterspindle at practically a right angle, and a binder-arm which laysthe cord on the same side` of` the knotter-spilnlle and the holderdiskaxis.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub scribed my name.

LEWIS MILLER.

Witnesses:

O. L. SADLER, W. K. MEANS.

